Two things: Apple loves services revenue, and Apple is scared of government regulation.
“The more they appeal to Android users, the more money they can get from them.
They’re essentially muscling in on Android-specific spaces to secure more market share.”
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Two things seem to have defined the Tim Cook era at Apple.
One is relentlessly efficient manufacturing of absurdly high-quality devices.
The other is Cooks love of services revenue.
Damir Spanic / Unsplash
The more they appeal to Android users, the more money they can get from them.
But why stop there?
Why not sell those services to folks who dont own Apple devices?
“Apple, like many other technology companies, is finding value in services.
But recently, that focus has shifted.
Now, services are one of Apples fastest-growing profit centers.
Theres a reason the Apple TV app appears pretty much everywhere that TV apps can run: money.
“Apple has been under scrutiny for anti-competitiveness and ecosystem lock-in,” says Archambault.
But this is likely a distant second reason.
Building apps for other platforms could be viewed as a way to increase lock-in, not to alleviate it.
But this approach also comes with risks.
Apples obsession with services revenue threatens its core business.
This regulation currently seems to be targeting Apples inclusion of tightly integrated first-party apps.
And this integrationthe tight fusion of hardware with softwareis Apples unique attraction.
This integration makes the M1 Macs possible.
Its why the iPhone is impossibly powerful, but also frugal on power.
Its how fancy features like iOS 15sLive Text and Universal Controlare made possible.
And its this obsession with services revenue that is driving Apples push into Android.
Why else would it commit resources to develop for a rival platform?
But the government does, and that might turn out to be a big problem.
